Shock resignation hits IWA & CRT restoration teams

[Laurence Hogg]

This arrived in todays mail, I always saw Vaughan as a committed IWA man but wondered how long he would remain so given current partnership with CRT.

 

<< Laurence

Following on from two recent resignations as of Saturday 18th June, Vaughan Welch is no longer Chairman of IWA Restoration Committee and, after more than 20 years as an Officer, has resigned from IWA. He has immediately taken on a senior role with a major navigation authority and expects to continue to work with waterway restoration projects outside the IWA.

Regards

Vaughan >>

 

So what now?

 

Note edited at Mr Welch's request to correct the date to 18th)

Edited June 20, 2016 by Laurence Hogg

[RLWP]

 

 

He has immediately taken on a senior role with a major navigation authority

 

It sounds like he has resigned because it would cause a huge conflict of interest

 

Richard

[cheshire~rose]

I had heard there was trouble 't mill

[Ray T]

I had heard there was trouble 't mill

 

Sorry that is too much, got to resurrect this:

 

 

You only really need to watch the first minute.

Edited June 19, 2016 by Ray T

[TheBiscuits]

 

as of Saturday 20th June,

 

What year is that?

 

I make today Sunday 19th ...

[cheshire~rose]

 

Sorry that is too much, got to resurrect this:

 

 

You only really need to watch the first minute.

 

I know I only NEEDED to watch the first minute but .... thanks for cheering up the last 9 minutes of my day

 

There are some clips you can watch 100 times and they still make you smile

[Laurence Hogg]

Just got this in the mail:

 

PRESS STATEMENT: IWA RESTORATION CHAIR TO STAND DOWN

 

Issue date: 20^th June 2016

 

The Inland Waterways Association has asked its Restoration Committee chairman, Vaughan Welch, to step down from his positions on IWA’s national committees.

 

The request follows communications by Vaughan Welch with the family of a deceased supporter of the Association that IWA’s Trustees considered inappropriate and contrary to the best interests of IWA and the inland waterways.

 

The Association’s decision was reviewed and upheld at a scheduled meeting of IWA’s Trustees in mid-June, to which Mr Welch was invited but declined to attend to put his side of events.

 

ENDS

Press Contact

For further information please contact Neil Edwards, The Inland Waterways Association,
telephone 01494 783453.

Notes for Editors

IWA is The Inland Waterways Association, a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and rivers. IWA is a national organisation with a network of volunteers and branches who deploy their expertise and knowledge to work constructively with navigation authorities, government and other organisations. The Association also provides practical and technical support to restoration projects through its expert Waterway Recovery Group.

IWA - Keeping our waterways alive.

www.waterways.org.uk

 

 

 

Alison Smedley

Press Office

[carlt]

I suspect I am no longer allowed to express my opinion about Mr Welch on here, under the new regime, but if anyone wonders what kind of chap he is I suggest they put his name into the search function and read comments about him posted in less strict times.

Edited June 20, 2016 by carlt

[RLWP]

I suspect I am no longer allowed to express my opinion about Mr Welch on here, under the new regime, but if anyone wonders what kind of chap he is I suggest they put his name into the search function and read comments about him posted in less strict times.

 

Why not try, Carl? Going about saying 'I'm oppressed' is one thing, others seeing you being oppressed is quite another

 

Richard

[carlt]

 

Why not try, Carl? Going about saying 'I'm oppressed' is one thing, others seeing you being oppressed is quite another

 

Richard

I'm don't feel at all "oppressed"...I have said many times that the website is the private property of Dan and he is free to do with it what he wishes.

 

I am also free to comment on the direction CWDF is going without feeling oppressed (but possibly subsequently censored or censured which Dan is also free to do).

 

My post was entirely on topic though and I wonder why you chose to steer it away from the original subject.

[RLWP]

I suspect I am no longer allowed to express my opinion about Mr Welch on here, under the new regime

 

That's why

 

Richard

[carlt]

 

That's why

 

Richard

Seems a bit silly as I did offer a solution to my dilemma.

 

The statement wasn't off topic nor was it inviting comment or criticising the forum's new direction, just stating a fact as I see it.

[sueb]

I always found Vaughn helpful and knowledgeable. He suffered bad press for comments taken out of context. He certainly worked hard for IWA and the waterways.

Edited June 20, 2016 by sueb

[alan_fincher]

I always found Vaughn helpful and knowledgeable. He suffered bad press for comments taken out of context. He certainly worked had for IWA and the waterways.

 

I can't let that go.

 

He posted an entire article as an IWA Branch Chair that couldn't possibly be taken out of context, because it was quite simply that - an entire article, not a carefully plucked out comment.

 

The article was based on prejudice, because if he had any real exposure to what he was writing about, he would have known he was spouting complete nonsense. It was actually highly offensive from somebody appointed at the time as a boaters representative.

 

I have no idea just how many great works he may have done in the world of canal preservation, but even if he were as good as David Hutchings, (which I rather doubt), it would not excuse his outpourings in my view.

 

The IWA might become a more viable organisation again if it manages to step away from views like his. I can't support something that has people like him as figureheads, however good an organisation they might otherwise have the potential to still be.

 

(Let's see how long that stays here!)

[magpie patrick]

There are two sides to every story

 

I know Vaughan, personally as well as professionally. I do not intend to get embroiled in a discussion about various elements of his work in the past, we have not always seen eye to eye - if I limited my contact to people I didn't have differences with I'd be in touch with very few people.

 

However, I also have very little faith in the IWA as things stand, and have found myself apologising for my membership on occasion (I am a member because I am, notionally, on the Inland Waterway Freight Group, but that is almost moribund). I would say that the IWA will come out of this with virtually no credit. My reasons are this:

 

Vaughan was named in a bequest to advise on how that bequest might be used: he felt the advice he was giving was being ignored by the IWA, and asked to be relieved of the obligation to offer that advice: this has caused offence to the IWA heirarchy who deemed his behaviour "inappropriate", even though it was Vaughan who was named in the bequest. Vaughan sought third party advice on the matter (not from me), he was advised that his role in the bequest was personal and nothing to do with the IWA.

The IWA wanted to question Vaughan on Saturday, Vaughan was already committed to another meeting and, following advice received, had decided to walk away from the Restoration Committee anyway.

 

In considering this, we should bear in mind that another recent resignation from RESCOM is Geraint Coles, Geraint is widely respected and has been heavily involved with the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal amongst others. Geraint had issues with the way that the IWA heirarchy were treating the subject of restoration and members of RESCOM. There were significant differences of opinion between Les Etheridge, the IWA Chairman, and members of the committee. Geriant's resignation has not drawn any comment, although it is, I believe, very damaging to the IWA if he feels he can not work with them.

 

In reporting the above, I have sought to avoid speculation and also minimised reference to my own opinion. As far as I'm aware I have not breached any confidences with the above, and I don't intend to.

[Heartland]

It is a great pity that such a person as Vaughan Welch has stepped down from his roles at the Inland Waterways Association. He has made a major contribution to waterway development, maintenance, restoration and the understanding of the history with which is associated. This was particularly the case in the West Midlands. The resignation of another important person in these matters, Geraint Coles, is particularly worrying. The contribution of both people will be missed, in fact the IWA will be the worse for it.

 

It is time to ask where the IWA is heading, and what Les Etheridge, the National Chairman has to say on why these people have left the fold ?

 

Ray Shill

[Athy]

 

 

 

He posted an entire article as an IWA Branch Chair.

His prose style would be rather wooden, I suppose?

[carlt]

He suffered bad press for comments taken out of context.

He has certainly never attempted to put his article in context.

 

I believe the article was quite clear and well written so not easily taken "out of context".

 

Perhaps you should read it and cite the parts that may have been misunderstood by so many people...

[Derek R.]

There's 'trouble at'mill, should we expect the . .

[HaulierP]

He has certainly never attempted to put his article in context.

 

I believe the article was quite clear and well written so not easily taken "out of context".

 

Perhaps you should read it and cite the parts that may have been misunderstood by so many people...

It was an absolutely disgraceful article for a Boaters Rep to write,I well remember Alan Fincher posting a link to it,

via Facebook I think.It was even defended by some people on here who should have known better, as being an accurate

representation of what was occurring.

[Ray T]

There's 'trouble at'mill, should we expect the . .

 

Post #4.